14 bad habits you should ditch before you graduate

Once you snag that diploma and propel your graduation cap into the air (cheesy and cinematic, but you’ve been dying to do that for years), your life will officially change. While securing a job, attending graduate school, or moving home with your parents are some of the more obvious changes, many grads forget that they’ll also have to ditch some of their bad collegiette habits before entering the real world. You had to do the same thing before you started college, so before you graduate, take a look at our top habits you should ditch before you graduate

1. Procrastinating
When your favorite frat is having their annual rager or a movie you wanted to see just came out, your deadlines mysteriously become less of a priority. It’s nothing to be ashamed of; even the most diligent collegiettes procrastinate every now and then.
However, we hate to be the bearer of bad news, but an excessive amount of procrastination is unacceptable in the real world. “The workplace has no room for procrastinating,” says Eden Lipke, a 2013 Boston University graduate who is also the co-founder and contributor for Beauty in the Bag, a beauty website. “Projects and deadlines will just pile up.”
To minimize your procrastination now, create a daily or weekly “To Do” list and reward yourself once you complete every task. If making a list doesn’t work, there’s an app for that. Programs like Self Control exist to minimize procrastination. After you create a customized list of websites you want to avoid and choose a length of time, Self Control blocks these tempting sites from your Mac for that amount of time. If you’re a PC user, try Self Restraint, which is compatible with Windows and Linux. By staying focused on the task(s) at hand, you’ll be able to accomplish everything you need to in a timely and effective manner.
2. Partying too much
As a collegiette, your social agenda probably looked a little bit like this: drinks with your crush on Wednesday, house party on Thursday, frat party on Friday, clubbing on Saturday, and drinks with the girls on Sunday. Let’s face it: college is almost synonymous with partying. You shouldn’t stay cooped up at home every night of your post-grad life, but leave going out four nights a week in college. “It’s less socially acceptable out of college,” says Lauren Grossman, a 2013 University of Delaware grad who is pursuing a career in social work. Though going to lecture hungover may be no big deal, your employers and coworkers will expect you to be focused and alert. Saving your crazy nights for the weekend may seem like a buzzkill (literally), but you’ll be happy you decided to stay at home when your boss notices your attentiveness. Not to mention, saving your going out for the weekend means you’ll have something to look forward to once the workweek is over!
3. Skipping classes
Most collegiettes are guilty of skipping at least one class during their four years at school. When your professor doesn’t take attendance and you have last night’s Game of Thrones episode to watch, how can you refuse? However, in the real world, skipping work is a big don’t. You won’t get points taken off your participation grade—you’ll just get fired.
If you’re no longer taking college classes, you can kick this bad habit by choosing a workout class to go to every week. Even though Pilates sounds more exciting than “Intro to Astronomy,” attending each class will help you get rid of that “I don’t have to go” attitude.
4. Wearing sweatpants all the time
Since it’s so easy to throw on sweatpants and a T-shirt and head to class, many collegiettes fall victim to this fashion crime. As much as we love our trusty college sweatshirt and matching pants, sporting them in public no longer suggests you’re a standard, stressed out college student—it just makes you look unprofessional. Instead, choose an ensemble that makes you look like a bright, driven graduate. For a comfortable outfit, opt for a chunky sweater and cozy pair of skinny jeans on the weekends. But what are you supposed to wear during the workweek? Try updating your wardrobe with these style tips.